Treating diabetes.

It often happens that some people suffer from diabetes and are not aware it, because their symptoms seem insignificant. According to recent studies, the early diagnosis of the disease may reduce the likelihood of occurrence of complications. Some of the symptoms you should watch out for are: Excessive thirst, Excessive hunger, Blurred vision, Increased fatigue, Unusual weight loss, Numbness in the arms or legs, Weakness, Vomiting and stomach pain and Lack of concentration.

What we know most about diabetes is that it can cause many physical problems. But what we usually ignore, are the emotional reactions of the patient.

According to research carried out at many universities, diabetics are twice more likely to suffer from depression than non-diabetics. These patients feel sadness and disappointment and seem to mourn for the carefree life they enjoyed before the onset of the disease. Others fear the complications of diabetes, including nephropathy, blindness, heart disease and circulatory problems. It is true that diabetics have to go through constant blood tests, medical care, medications and follow a special diet, which can make them feel suppressed and deprived.

How to treat the disease without medication:

The first thing you need to do is to avoid consuming foods rich in fat and sugar. Foods high in sugar: jam, chocolate, honey, sweets, cakes, biscuits, most breakfast cereals, soft drinks, juices.

High-fat foods: fried foods, fat cheese, butter, fresh cream, pastry, sausages, meats, nuts, mayonnaise, potato chips, bakery items.

Additionally, you have to avoid consuming eggs. A recent study found that eating an egg a day can lead to the development of type II diabetes. After 20 years of research on 57,000 men and women, scientists from Boston and Massachusetts, found that consuming one egg per day increases the risk of type II diabetes by 60%. For women the risk was increased by 77%. However, the consumption of one egg a week does not increase the risk for this condition.

It would also be very helpful to lose some weight, if you have extra pounds. About 80% of people diagnosed with this condition were overweight at the time of the diagnosis.

Diabetes and its complications .

Can be life altering. It can become very strenuous and taxing to live with health problems caused by diabetes. Short term complications can happen quickly such as hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, ketoacidosis and hyper-osmolar syndrome.

Long term complications such as heart disease, kidney disease, neuropathy, diseases of the eyes, peripheral vascular disease and more can seriously compromise the diabetic patient.

Some of the complications arising due to diabetes are as follow:

Atherosclerosis: In simple words it translates to hardening of arteries, which can lead to coronary arterial disease, peripheral arterial disease, a stroke or a heart attack.

Diabetic retinopathy: It is eye disease without any early symptoms and can lead to kidney failure.

Diabetic nephropathy: It is a kidney disease again without any early symptoms and can lead to kidney failure.

Diabetic neuropathy: It is a nerve disease, which effects internal organs and causes loss of sensation especially in the feet.

Sexual dysfunction and yeast infections in the genital areas: which may lead to a loss in sexual intercourse.

Risk of tuberculosis: It is increased due to uncontrolled hyperglycemia and since tuberculosis is an airborne disease it is difficult to protect a diabetic from contracting it.

Adhesive capsultitis: Also known as "frozen shoulder" it is a condition in which the individual loses mobility in the shouldner joint over a period of time and it is a very painful condition to live with.

Depression and diabetes go hand in hand to make the individual's life miserable.

Loss of limbs is another complication of diabetes.

Although the above mentioned complications arising due to diabetes are overwhelming, there is a lot that one can do to protect oneself through blood glucose control, exercise and diet.